Elevator.



PATENTED APR. 18, 1.905.

P. R. WILLSON', JR. ELEVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 21, 1902.

2 SHEBTS-SHEET 1 PATENTED APR. 18, 1905.

P. R. WILLSON, JR. ELEVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 21, 1902.

witnesses 9%? UNITED STATES Patented April 18, 1905.

PATENT OFFIC FREEMAN R. VVILLSON, JR, OF VVORTHINGTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO JOSEPH A. JEFFREY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

ELEVATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 787,602, dated April 18, 1905.

Application filed August 21, 1902. $erial No. 120,535.

To all whom, it non/y concern:

Be it known that I, FREEMAN R. WILLsoN, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at IVorthington, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elevators, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improvement in adjustable-leg elevators. being particularly adapted for use in the unloading of boatsand for similar purposes.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an elevator embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is afront view of the same. Fig. 3 is a side view of part of the elevator on a larger scale. Fig. 1 is a front view of the parts in Fig. 3. Fig. is a diagrammatic view illustrating the relations of the devices which vertically support the elevator-leg and by means of which it can be adjusted vertically and laterally. Fig. 6 is a view, partly in plan, partlyin section, of the horizontal part of the apparatus, the chains and buckets being removed. 7

Any suitable frame for supporting the operative parts of the mechanism 'may be em-' ployed. For illustration I have indicated the elevator as constructed for use in the unloading of boats.

In the drawings, A indicates the groundsills, upon which the framework for the elevator is constructed, A the cross-beams, and A the floor.

B B are sill-beams, upon which are mounted the upright beams O O C The braces D, which are rigidly secured to each set of uprights, have twin tie-bars (Z, which are likewise secured to the uprights at cl.

The beams E, which extend well out beyond the uprights C, so as to project over'the vessel to be unloaded, are seated in the uprights, as shown at c, and are rigidly secured to the tie-bars F, Which are themselves secured to the uprights O, O, and Of. The innermost ends of the beams are braced by the bars G, while the outer ends are supported by the braces H, which are secured to the uprights O at their inner ends andattheir outer ends to the beams E and the tie-beam I, this latter beam being mortised in the ends of the beams E, as shown at i.

The beams J are rigidly secured both to the ties L, upon which they rest, and to the uprights O, G, and O to which the ties are secured. The diagonally mounted beams M serve to brace the entire upper portion of the framework.

The hopper N, which is constructed between the uprights O and C, is supported at its delivery end by the beams O, which are secured at either end to one of the uprights.

(3* represents a short upright the end of which is mortised and bolted in the beams E and J.

' P is a cross-beam seated in and secured to the beams J.

.The conveyer proper is represented as a whole by 1. It consists of an adjustable beam or leg 2, preferably made up of two U-shaped beams 3 3. Sprocket-Wheels 4 5 are journaled in bearings 6 7, the former being rigidly secured at the upper end of the leg or beam, while the latter is adjustably secured at the lower end, as shown at 7. Any of the numerous well-known types of adjustable bearings for taking up slack in the conveyer-chains may be used.

8 9 indicate idlers mounted on bearings se cured to the side of the leg or beam, and 10 indicates an idler mounted in bearings carried by the bearing-supported members 11 11, which are also rigidly secured to the leg or beam. On the guide-frame for this leg, 1212* indicate Ubeams, to which are secured guide members or straps 13 13, between which the leg or beam 2 slides as it is raised or lowered. The hinge-shaft 14., which is carried by the beams 12 12, is journaled in bearings 15, mounted upon the beam J. This arrangement permits of the rotation about the axis of the hinge-shaft 14 of both the beams 12 12 and the leg 2, which is guided by them.

16 17 indicate bearing supporting members rigidly secured to the beams 12 12 and carrying bearings in which are journaled sprocket-wheels 18 19.

At 20 is shownashaft mounted in bearings 21, carried by the beam J. This shaft carries the sprocket-wheels 21 and the gear or drive wheel 22. which meshes with the pinion 23 on the shaft 24, said shaft being journaled in bearings 25. 26 indicates the driving-pulley on the end of said shaft 24, which is belted to the source of power.

27 indicates the chain. and 28 the buckets of the endless bucket conveyer, which constitutes the means for elevating the material.

29 is a chute which leads from the sprocketwheels 19 to the hopper N and serves to convey the material to the hopper which is discharged from the buckets as they turn about these sprocket-wheels.

The adjustability of the elevator-leg is secured by means of a block-and-tackle system operated by the levers 3O 30. These levers are secured to the shaft 31 and 31, respectively, which shafts are journaled at 32 33 and 34 35, respectively, in bearings mounted on the uprights C C. The shaft 31 carries a pinion 36, which meshes with a gear-wheel 37 on the shaft 38. The shaft 31 carries a gear 39, which meshes with a gear-wheel 40 on a shaft 41. The shafts 38 and 41, which are journaled in bearings 42 43 and 44 45, respectively, also mounted on the uprights C C, carry drums 46 47 and 48 49, respectively. To the drums 46 and 47 are secured the ropes, cables, or chains 46, which lead to the outer blocks and tackles, (indicated by 50,) and the drums 48 49 are secured by similar means 48, which lead to the inner pair (indicated by 52.) 54indicates blocks or plates rigidly secured to the leg 2 and provided with links 56, to which the pulleys 57, which constitute the lower member of the tackle, are attached by means of hooks 58. The upper pulleys 59 are supported by eyebolts 60, secured to the beams E. Pawls 61 62 are mounted on pivot members secured to the uprights C C in such a manner that in normal working position they engage with the pinions 36 and 39, respectively, and thereby lock the mechanism against back rotation. 63 are guide-pulleys for the ropes, cables, or chains 46.

In Fig. 1 the full lines show the elevatorleg raised out of working position, the dotted lines indicating the leg in a range of its working positions. The method of adjusting the leg into the various positions will be seen to be very simple, both the lateral and vertical adjustments of the same being obtained by the mere rotation in one direction or the other of the shafts 31 and 31. For example, if it is desired to adjust the leg to the outermost position (shown in Fig. 1) all that is necessary is to release the pawls 61 62 and to allow the rope, cable, or chain to unwind from the drums 48 49 somewhat faster than from the drums 46 47. This will tend to revolve the guide-frame about the axis of the shaft 14, maintaining a constant fixed working relation between the sprockets on the guide-frame,

adjustment of the sliding part.

the main frame, and the leg with the" endless chain and at the same time lowering the leg into working position. As the sprockets 19 swing about the axis of the hinge-shaft 14 they carry with them the chute 29, thereby insuring the delivery of the material to the hopper from any of the working positions to which the sprockets may be adjusted.

The constant fixed working relation between the sprockets and the conveyer-chain above referred to is obtained by hinging the guide-frame to the main or fixed frame in such a manner that the sprockets 18 19 remain equidistant from the leg in whatsoever position it may be adjusted, thereby maintaining the requisite degree of tautness on the chain at all times.

When the framework-support herein presented is considered in its entirety, it may be regarded as made up of two main parts, the first part being the relatively fixed or stationary framework including the beams, uprights, &c. (indicated at A A B B C (3 C C C E H J, &c.) and the second part of which comprises two sections, one of which is directly connected to the aforesaid fixed part. as by a hinge, and having the bars and connecting devices, as indicated at 12 12 13 13, &c., the other section of this second part of the frame being the longitudinally-sliding portion composed of the long bars 3 3 and their connections. When this latter section of the second part of the frame is sliding longitudinally, its companion section at 12 12 serves principally as a guide, and at such times the parts at and 52 constitute two extensible supports or holders, which support this sliding section bodily against down ward movement and are at the same time adapted to effect the vertical One of these extensible supports connects the lower part of the leg-frame with a part of the stationary frame which is outside of the leg-frame and the other extensible support connects said lower part with the inner portion of the stationary frame, and not only do they bodily support and vertically adjust this section of the frame, but they can also be utilized, as above described, to move it around its hinge to throw the lower part of the leg outward or inward.

1 am aware of the fact that elevators have been constructed with verticallyadjustable legs; but I believe myself to be the first to have devised an under-acting elevator having the features of construction and operation herein presented. It is under-acting in that the buckets after being loaded rise on the inner side of the leg until they reach the headwheel 19, then move inward while discharging their contents toward a supporton the stationary part of the frame, as at 29, and thereafter move on the returnlines, and I believe myself to be the first also in providinga movable headwheel 19, the movements of which assist in compensating for the variations inthe length of the different parts of the chain as the legis adjusted, but which is so positioned in relation to the other parts that its movements do not affect. the proper movements of the buckets when they are unloading. I am aware that it has been proposed to employ over-acting elevators(with the buckets carrying the loads up on the outside of the leg) having headwheols mounted directly on the axis of. the hinge around which the leg is adjusted; but in such cases the chain and buckets after reaching the guide-wheel (corresponding to that at 19) turn downward and have to be carried through the main frame or fixed frame, compelling the introduction of numerous guidewheels and complicating the apparatus. This I obviate by carrying the return part of the chain from the guide at 22 on the fixed frame to the upper part of the elevator-leg, as to a wheel 4:, and thence down on the outside of the leg to the loading region.

Some of the beneficial results incident to having the two vibrating chain-wheels at 18 and 19 can be attained if their axes be on a line passing through the axis of the framehinge; but I prefer to have their axes connected by a line which does not pass through the hinge-axis, as I still further avoid any cramping or binding of the chain at any point in its path; but in this respect there can be modification according topreference or the permission of circumstances.

I have shown two parallel endless chains with buckets between, typically illustrating one style of structure of this class; but it will be understood that the essential features of the in vention are as applicable for employment in elevators of the other sort in which use is made of one chain, and when in the present description and claims I make reference to a chain I mean to include structures in which one or more endless chains, cables, or the like are employed if they are related to the other parts in the manner characteristic of the present invention.

1 am aware of the fact that an under-acting elevator of this subclass has been proposed in which use was made of a two-part supporting frame, one part being stationary or fixed and the other part being made in two swinging sections hinged together and united to the stationary frame by a hinge at the inner end of the upper swinging section. The vertical adjustment of the lower part or loading part of the outer section in such an elevator requires lifting both swinging sections, and therefore the buckets had to be carried a long distance horizontally before their contents could be finally discharged, as discharging would be interfered with if effected at points near the outer end of the upper swinging section because of the long are through.

which said outer end must swing from time to time. Moreover, the ropes or chains whlch sustain the leg must carry the weight of the entire chain and of all the buckets, except the small part thereof near the single wheel on the main frame; but in the present construction the weight of the wheels 18 and 19 and of the hinged section at 12 12 and 13 13* of the leg are carried by the fixed frame, as well as weight of the wheels and shafting at 21 and 20, vertical adjustment in this case depending upon a longitudinal sliding action of the sections 3 and 3 relative to that at 12 12 and 13 13. The extent of the swing of the wheels 18 and 19 is reduced to very little, so that the buckets can be immediately emptied as they turn around the axis of the wheel at 19, and no necessity exists for scraping the material by the buckets after they have been turned to the upright position, such advance by scraping having been necessary in the earlier mechanisms referred to. I provide for thus supporting this part of the chain and buckets on the main frame (that is, the loaded part, which is traveling approximately horizontally for emptying, and the part that is returning outward again from the emptying point) by arranging the chain so that after returning to the leg part of the frame it moves, upward a second time and outward over the top of the leg-frame before moving downward on the outside of the leg.

Comparison of the present construction with that illustrated, for instance, in the Patent No. 480,659, dated August 9, 1892, to Ewart and Dodge, will emphasize the marked improvements'that I have made in elevators of this subclass.

The loaded part of the chain-to wit, that between the wheels 5 and 19 and on the inside of the leg-sectionis relatively short, and its weight is carried by the fixed frame because of the wheel at 19 being connected to the fixed frame by the hinge 14, and thus the vertically-sliding bars 3 and 3 are relieved of the weight of the load and are required to support only part of the empty buckets and chain, and therefore this sliding part of the frame can be made much lighter than heretofore in those machineswherein it had to be strong enough to support not only itself, but also a long line of loaded buckets on its outer side in over-acting elevators or a similarly long line of loaded buckets on its inner side with under-acting elevators such as have been referred to.

What 1 claim is 1. In an elevator, the under-acting endless bucket conveyer bodily adjustable vertically and adapted to have the buckets scoop up their loads at the lower end of the elevator and to move upward to the emptying-point and then horizontally to cause the buckets to discharge their loads under the action of gravity and to move from said emptying-point upward and outward, and then again upward and outward and downward on the outside of the path of the upwardly-rising loaded buckets, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with the adjustable elevator-leg and the stationary supporting-frame therefor, of an endless chain and a series of buckets secured thereto, having the lower part thereof adjustable to different heights vertically and from one position horizontally to another, and arranged to have the loaded buckets hang from the stationary frame and to have the chain travel vertically with said loaded buckets, then travel horizontally for emptying them, then travel upward and outward and downward on the outside of the path of the upwardly-rising load ed buckets, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with the elevator-leg and the supporting-frame therefor, of an endless chain and aseries of buckets secured thereto, having the lower part thereof adjustable to different positions horizontally and arranged to have the loaded buckets hang from the stationary frame and to have the chain travel vertically when the buckets are loaded, then travel horizontally for emptying, then upward relatively to the supportingframe, and then outward and finally downward on the outside of the path of the upwardlyrising loaded buckets, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with thehead-wheel 19, the elevator-leg, slidable longitudinally as to said wheel,'and the stationary supportingframe therefor, of an endless chain and a series of buckets secured thereto, having the lower part thereof adjustable to different heights vertically, and arranged to have the chains travel vertically with the loaded buckets, then travel horizontally for emptying them, then travel upward and outward, and finally downward on the outside of the path of the upwardly-rising loaded buckets, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with the head-whee] 19, the elevator-leg slidable longitudinally as to said wheel, and the supporting-frame therefor, of an endless chain and a series of buckets having the lower part thereof vertically and horizontally adjustable and arranged to travel vertically with the loaded buckets, then travel horizontally for emptying them, and then travel upward and outward and downward, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of the fixed frame, the adjustable frame, and the discharge-receiver, with an endless chain having a series ofempty buckets supported on the adjustable frame, and a series of loaded buckets supported on the fixed frame, and the adjustable head-wheel for the chain adapted to be adjusted to compensate for the movements of the adjustable frame, substantially as set forth.

7 The combination of the fixed frame, the

adjustable frame, and the discharge-receiver,

with the endless chain having a series of buckets secured thereto supported partly on the adjustable frame and partly on the fixed frame, the adjustable head-wheel for that part of the chain which passes from the adjustable frame toward the fixed frame, and the wheel adjustable in the opposite direction for that part of the chain which is returning from the fixed frame to the upper part of the adjustable frame, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination with the fixed frame, the frame adjustable relatively to the fixed frame, and the discharge-receiver, of an endless chain with a series of empty buckets supported on the adjustable frame and a series of loaded buckets supported on the fixed frame, and arranged to have the buckets tilted as they move 1 along the fixed frame at points adjacent to the discharge-receiver and to afterward move from the guide on the fixed frame outward toward the upper part of the adjustable frame,

substantially as set forth.

9. The combination with the fixed frame, the frame adjustable relatively to the fixed frame, and the discharge-receiver, of an endless chain with a series of buckets supported partly on the adjustable frame and partly on the fixed frame, and arranged to move downward on the outer side of the adjustable frameand upward on the inner side thereof, and to travel approximately horizontally toward the chainsupports on the fixed frame and to return from said supports to the upper part of the adjustable frame, substantially as set forth.

10. In a chain-and-bueket elevator or conveyer, the combination, with a relatively fixed frame, of an adjustable frame hinged to the fixed frame and slidable longitudinally relatively to the hinge, a discharge-receiver, a chain carrying a series of buckets supported partly on the adjustable frame and partly on the fixed frame at points adjacent to the discharge-receiver, said chain and buckets passing from the lower part of the adjustable frame around the supports on the fixed frame, and

thence back to the upper part of the adjustable frame, and mechanism for taking up or regulating slack in the chain to compensate for the varying positions of the adjustable frame, substantially as set forth.

11. In a chain-and-bucket elevator or conveyer, the combination of the two-part framework, the two parts of which are hinged together, a stationary guide-wheel on the fixed part of said frame, a receiving chute or hopper, two chain-wheels connected to the swinging part of the framework andadapted to be moved thereby relative to the wheel on the first part of the frame, and a chain witha series of buckets traveling approximately vertically on the second part of the frame and approximately horizontally on the first part of the frame, substantially as set forth.

12. In a chainandbucket elevator or conveyer, the combination, with an endless chain and a series of buckets secured thereto, of the two-part frame-support for the chain and .buckets, the two parts of which are hinged together, and upon which the chain travels approximately vertically and then approximately horizontally, the first part of said frame-support having a chain-guide wheel thereon toward which the chain travels from the second part of the frame and around which the chain and buckets travel from its lower to its upper side, and from which it returns to the second part of the framework, and two chain-wheels adjustable relatively to the last said wheel and connected to the second part of the frame, and two supplemental verticallyadju stable chain-wheels on the second part of the frame, substantially as set forth.

13. In a chain-and-bucket elevator or conveyer, the combination, with an endless chain and a series of buckets thereon, of a two-part framework-support for the chain and buckets tl a two parts of which are hinged together, the first part having one or more guide-wheels for the buckets and chain, on an axis fixed as to the frame-hinge, and the second part having two bucket and chain guides on two separate axes which both vibrate about the hingeaxis, but are connected by a line not passing through said axis, substantially as set forth.

14. The combination of the two-part supporting-frame, one of whose parts is relatively fixed, and the other of which parts is movable relatively to the fixed part, and an endless chain having buckets secured thereto, supported partly upon each part of said frame, the movable part of the frame being formed in two sections, of which one section is pivoted to the fixed frame and the other section is slidably connected with the pivoted section, substantially as set forth.

15. The combination of the two-part supporting-frame, one of whose parts is relatively fixed, and the other of which parts is movable and formed in two sections, one section being pivoted to the fixed frame, and the other section being slidably connected to the pivoted section, and an endless chain having buckets secured thereto and supported partly upon the fixed frame, and partly upon each of the sections of the movable frame, substantially as set forth.

16. The combination of the two-part supporting-frame, one of which parts is relatively fixed, and the other of which is movable relatively to the fixed frame, a chain-wheel on the fixed frame, a chain-wheel on the upper part of the movable frame, achain-wheel on the lower part of the movable frame, a hinge connecting the two frames, a chainwheel on the movable frame immediately above the hinge, a chain-wheel on the movable frame immediately below the hinge, and an endless chain with a series of buckets arranged to move around the bottom wheel of the movable frame, then around the lower wheel adjacent to the hinge, then around the wheel above the hinge, then around the upper wheel on the movable frame, and thence to the lower wheel on the movable frame, substantially as set forth.

17 The combination with the fixed. frame and the hinged frame, of the endless chain with a series of buckets secured thereto and supported partly on the hinged frame and partly on the fixed frame, and the movable dischargereceiver adjustable automatically with the hinged frame, substantially as set forth.

18. The combination of the fixed frame, the vertically-adjustable leg-frame, the upper wheel 4: on the leg-frame, the lower wheel 5 on the leg-frame, the bodily-movable headwheel 19, the wheel 22 on the fixed frame, the wheel 18 and the chain with its series of buck ets secured thereto adapted to travel around the wheels in the series recited, substantially as set forth.

19. The combination of the fixed frame, the leg-frame adjustable relatively thereto, the upper wheel 4. on the leg-frame, the inner wheel 5 on the leg-frame, the head-wheel, the wheel 22 on the fixed frame, the wheel 18 connected to and adjustable with the legframe, and the chain with its series of buckets secured thereto, and adapted to travel around the wheels in the series recited.

20. The combination of the vertically-adjustable leg-frame, the fixed frame on the inside and on the outside of the leg-frame, the longitudinally extensible support for the lower part of the leg-frame connecting it with the outside part of the fixed frame, and the longitudinally-extensible support connected to the lower part of the leg-frame and connected to the inner part of the fixed frame, substantially as set forth.

21. The combination of the fixed frame, the vertically-sliding leg-frame, the hinge interposed between the leg-frame and the fixed frame, and the means for bodily sustaining the leg-frame adapted to turnthe leg-frame about said hinge, substantially as set forth.

22. In an elevator, an endless under-acting bucket conveyer arranged to have the loaded buckets travel vertically, then turn and travel approximately horizontally for emptying, then travel upward and outward, then pass around another turning axis through an approximately vertical path, the lower part of the series of buckets at the region of loading being vertically adjustable relatively to both of the aforesaid lines around which they turn from and to the vertical, substantially as set forth.

23. In an elevator, an endless under-acting bucket conveyer arranged to have the loaded buckets travel vertically, then turn to travel horizontally for emptying, the lower part of the series of buckets at the region of loading being vertically adjustable relatively to the line around which the buckets turn as they wheel on the fixed frame, then around the 1 leave their vertical path, and the buckets beframe, and means for bodily sustaining the leg-frame adapted to turn it about said hinge and to adjust it vertically relative to said hinge, substantially as set forth.

26. The combination of the fixed frame, the guiding-frame hinged to said fixed frame, the vertically-adjustable leg-frame mounted in said guiding-frame, an endless chain having a series of buckets supported on the adjustable frame and a series of buckets supported on the fixed frame, and sprocket-wheels for the chain on the guiding-frame adapted to move therewith to compensate for the movements of the adjustable frame, slrbstantially as set forth.

27. In a chain-and-bucket elevator or conveyer, the combination with the relatively fixed frame, of a guide-frame hinged to the fixed frame, an adjustable leg-frame in said guide-frame, a stationary power-d riven Wheel on the fixed frame, two chain-wheels on the hinged guide-frame having their axes of rotation in horizontal planes on opposite sides of the horizontal plane through the axis of rotation of said power-driven wheel, and a chain carrying a series of buckets, said chain extending around the adjustable leg-frame and around and between said sprocket-wheels on the guide-frame and around the powerdriven wheel on the fixed frame, substantially as set forth.

28. In a chain-and-bucket elevator or conveyer, the combination of the fixed frame, the vertically-sliding leg-frame, the hinge interposed between the leg-frame and the fixed frame, and a chain carrying a series of buckets supported partly on the adjustable frame and partly on the fixed frame, substantially as set forth.

'29. In a chain-and-bucket elevator or conveyer, the combination of the fixed frame, the vertically-sliding leg-frame, the guide-frame therefor hinged to the fixed frame, adrivingwheel on the fixed frame, and two chain-wheels on the guide-frame adapted to be moved relative to the axis of the driving-wheel, and an endless chain engaging with said wheels and extending around the leg-frame and carrying a series of buckets, substantially as set forth.

30. In an adjustable leg-elevator, the combination of a relatively fixed frame, a depending leg-frame pivotally connected on a horizontal axis to the relatively fixed frame, and having its lower end adjustable vertically to different positions relatively to said axis, means for supporting the pivoted leg-frame at different inclinations to the fixed frame, and an endless elevator supported partly on said fixed frame and partly on said leg-frame and having its buckets arranged to travel empty downward on an outer line and to travel upward loaded on an inner line, and then horizontally for emptying and then outward prior to again traveling downward on the outer line, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREEMAN R. VVILLSON, JR. Witnesses:

JoE WEBSTER, R. H. COTTERILL. 

